Discovered an unprecedented depth of volcanic lava

Researchers have identified a previously unknown source of volcanic lava at the extreme depth of the Earth, in the transition zone between the upper and lower layers.

In Bermuda Islands, geologists have found evidence of volcanic material from the transition zone, between 400 and 650 km below the surface of the Earth.

Picture 1 of Discovered an unprecedented depth of volcanic lava
An unprecedented source of volcanic lava has been discovered by scientists.

Cornell University geologist Esteban Gazel said: "We hope the data has just been found that volcanoes are a formation of overlays, an uprising from deeper layers like Hawaii. This is the first time we have found a clear sign from the deep transition zone in the Earth's coating that volcanoes can form this way. '

Hawaii volcanoes originate from a depth of 200 to 400 km. But Bermuda's volcano comes from much deeper, in an area rich in water, crystals and molten rocks.

Geologists found this evidence in a core sample drilled in Bermuda in 1972. It was more than 700 meters long and was essentially the timeline of regional geological history. When matter is deposited, it forms a layer in the rock and researchers can study them to recreate past events.

The researchers analyzed rock samples, searched for isotopes, trace elements, evidence of water and volatile matter, hoping their results would show that volcano is a volcano from the mantle. above.

"For the first time I suspected that Bermuda's volcanic past was very special when I sampled the core and found the diverse structure and mineralogy preserved in different lava flows. We quickly identified It is interesting to go through our first results . the mysteries of Bermuda begin to reveal , " said geologist Sarah Mazza of the University of Münster. .